Our program committee felt that a brief introduction toCherokee History would be helpful since we are meeting on theCherokee Indian Reservation.

My Cherokee interest was kindled after reading threebooks on Nancy Ward, the Cherokee Princess and Beloved Woman.I continued my research on her and wrote an article for boththe Graham County Heritage and the Carter County HistoryBooks.

This presentation came about because the speaker Icontacted was not available for the meeting and his fee was$100. I am going to present some facts which I have learnedthrough my research.

The name Cherokee probably comes from the word cheria,meaning fire, or Red Fire Men. (Phillips p. 12) Theiremblem of bravery was red. They believed bravery came fromthe east where the sun rose. (Woodwards p. 21) The namemight have meant children of the sun or brave men.In 1775, Dragging Canoe, son of Attakullakulla a famousCherokee, referred to the Cherokee's as Ani-yun-wiya whichmeans real or principal people (Alterman p. 38)

Thousands of years ago the Cherokees probably were partof the Iroquois family of the Great Lake Region. About threeto four thousand years ago the Cherokees separated from theIroquois and moved to the southern Appalachian region.(Phillips p. 12, Woodward p. 21)

The Cherokees were the largest tribe in the southeastwhen DeSota visited western NC for four days (May, 1540).(Phillips p. 12, Satz 11) They were lead by a IndianPrincess of another southern tribe, who escaped on Cherokeeland in western NC DeSota used Tamemes, Indian Slaves, tocarry the supplies. (Woodward p. 23-24)

The Clan System is an important part of the CherokeeCulture. A person could not marry a person of the sameclan, and their children couldn't marry into either of theirparent's clan. The husband took his wife's last name andlived with her clan. The maternal uncle had the task ofraising his nieces and nephews. When a husband died, hiswidow could marry quicker within her husband's clan. If shewanted to marry into another clan, unless her husband's clangave permission, she might possible have to wait up to fouryears. The husband was only required a short time formourning. (Satz p. 19-20)

There are seven clans, with the Wolf being the mostimportant, with Oconostota, Attakukulla, Tame Doe and herdaughter, Nancy Ward belonging to it. The six other clansare: Deer, Bird, Paint, Wild Potato, Blue and Long Hair.(Alterman p. 5)

As an avid history buff and genealogist, I started tryingto decide how everyone was related, "Old Hop", Moytoy,Oconostota, Attakullakulla and Tame Doe who was the mother ofNancy Ward. Different authors gave various relationships,and here is a little of what I found out.

Pat Alterman gave the following. Nancy Ward was thedaughter of Tame Doe who was a niece of Old Hop called"The Cherokee Emperor." Attakullakulla was a brother to TameDoe and Willenawah, who signed the Watauga Land Purchase whoalso attacked FortLoudon. Oconostota had a brotherKitagista, nicknamed " The Prince" who was one of the sevenprinces who went to London. Old Abraham and the Ravan werenephews of Oconostota.

In 1730, Sir Alexander Cuming, Emissary for King GeorgeII of England, went to see Moytoy, a minor Chief of theOverhill Cherokees, to arrange for seven Cherokee princesto return with him to England. Cuming made Moytoy theEmperor of the Cherokees. Other authors thought Old Hop wasthe main chief. Cuming's and the Cherokees left Charles Townon the ship H.M.S. Fox in 1730, staying one year. A pictureof this group is in the BritishMuseum, names listed below.l. Ounaconoa, maybe Oconostota my guess, 2. PrinceSkalilosken (or Kitagista), 3. Kollanna, 4. Oukah Ulah, 5.Tathtowe, 6. Clogoittah, 7. Ukwaneequa (Attakullakulla),(PICTURE ABOVE). (Alterman 9-10)

In 1895, E. Sterling King, a student at CarsonNewmanCollege a school in upper east Tennessee, visited theCherokee Indian Reservation. He talked to the 100 year oldplus granddaughter of Nancy Ward, who told him about hergrandmother. He used her information in his book Wild Rose ofthe Cherokee which was published in 1895. She said that whenMoytoy died, his elder brother, Oconostota took his place,another source says Moytoy's son took his place. AuthorAdams who uses Alternam, and King as her sources says thatOconostota, Attakullakulla and Tame Doe were all children ofMoytoy.

From the book, The Cherokee Frontier the following isgiven: Moytoy was killed in battle in 1741 and his 13 yearson, Ammonscossittee, took his place, Raven of Hiwassee wasappointed as his advisor, by the "Carolina" or "Whites" .Old Hops supporters and Moytoy's struggled for control forseveral years. When this struggle was settled, the power wasdivided between two chiefs. Oconostota became Red or WarChief, most powerful, and died at Chota between 1782/85.Attakullakulla, became White or Peace Chief died 1778/81,both over 80 when they died. (Satz p. 60)

An Englishman Henry Timberlake visited and lived with theCherokees for several years, and left several descendantsthere. His book Memoirs of Timberlake published in ,states. "The Emperor of the Cherokees, commonly called bythe English as "Old Hop", or Connicqtouge. An earlier chief,"Canacaught", was mentioned as early as 1684. Others thoughtthis was Oconostota, but this was incorrect.

Emmert Starr, a Cherokee Doctor, historian, anddescendant of Nancy Ward through Cabel Starr, said Oconostotaand Attakullakulla went to London. Starr wrote a book,History of the Cherokee Indians. In Cherokee Oconostotameans ground sausage and Attakukulla means leaning stick.

Now you should be as confused as I was but, here is myguess. In 1730 when Cumings visited he made Moytoy chief,and as long as Moytoy lived the other Cherokees supportedMoytoy, but the support was later split. I still don't nowhow they were related, but they were all members of the WolfClan.

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY. TThe Peace Treaty of 1763, which ended the French andIndian War, was signed in Augusta, GA. The Cherokeessupported the British during the war and were one of the fivesouthern Indian Tribes to sign over a large track of land tothe British. (Phillips p. 20) . In October, as aconsolation to the Cherokee's the British forbade the whiteman to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

During the French and Indian War, from 1754 to 1763,Oconostota sided with the French, for three reasons. 1.Around 1736 a French Jesuit Priest, Christian Priber, came tothe CherokeeTerritory to convert the Indians to the FrenchSide by dressing and adjusting to their ways. 2. He toldOconosota that the English caused the Smallpox Epidemic of1738-1739 that wiped out half of the Cherokee Nation.Oconostota and his nephew, Dragging Canoe had it werepockmarked. (Woodward p. 8, Alterman p. 13) 3. Oconostotawas a prisoner of the English.

Attakullakulla always sided with the English and wasnicknamed Little Carpenter, because he was good at puttingthe pieces together for peace. ( Woodward p. 83) TheIndians and the Settlers met in March, 1775 at SycamoreShoals on the Watauga, present day Elizabethton. Attakukullainfluenced the other chiefs to sign the TranysylvaniaLandAgreement, which enabled the settlers to buy Cherokee landbetween middle Tennessee and Kentucky. The Ravan of Chotawho was jealous of Dragging Canoe's power, advised Oconostotato sign it.

Dragging Canoe 1732-1792, son of Attakullakulla,refused to sign it and made his famous speech. "The oldchiefs have giving you good lands, but to keep them will notbe easy. It will be a dark and bloody ground". (Alterman p.37-38) Dragging Canoe, played a major role in the earlyhistory of east Tennessee and western North Carolina. Oneday Dragging Canoe wanted to go with the other Cherokeewarriors, but the elders felt he was not old enough. He wastold that if he could carry his canoe, he would be able togo. He was able to carry his canoe even if he did drag it.He was given the name Tsi yu Gansii ni, which in Englishmeans " he is dragging the canoe", thus the name DraggingCanoe.

War between the Cherokees and the settlers might nothave occurred if a delegation of Shawnee, Delaware, Mohawks,Iroquois and other tribes had not been headed by Cornstalk, anoted Shawnee Warrior. Oconostota and Attakullakulla refusedthe War Belt. Nancy Ward wasn't happy to see them, becauseshe wanted peace, but she prepared the Black Drink anyway.It was the Indian Custom for the Ghi gau, Nancy Ward, toprepare the black drink, which was to purify the warriors forbattle. Nancy was a friend to both and knew that blood shedwas not the solution. Nancy was given the title "BelovedWoman" after the battle between the Creeks and the Cherokees.Nancy Ward sent a warning to the East Tennessee settlementswith three Cherokee Prisoners she let escape, Isaac Thomas,Williams, and William Fawling. (Woodward p. 91-92)

In July, 1776 Dragging Canoe attacked Long Island (KingsPort), where he was wounded in both thighs and was carriedoff on a litter. Abram or Abraham, attacked FortCaswellalso called FortWatauga, and Ravan of Chota, attackedCarter's Valley. They did little damage because of Nancy'swarning. Dragging Canoe established a new branch ofCherokees called Chickamauga Indians.

Old Tassel assumed the responsibility of the CherokeeNation after the death of Oconostota and Attakullakulla.He had hoped to voice the grievances of the Cherokees, toPresident George Washington and the great men of the 13states at the Treaty of the Hopewell, November 28, 1785.(Woodward p. 104-105)

Old Tassel, Hanging Maw, Abraham and his son weremurdered under a flag of truce by Franklinites in June, 1788.This was blamed on John Sevier, since he was Governor of theState of Franklin. This angered Governor Johnson of NorthCarolina, who called for John Sevier's arrest. Sevier wasarrested, but was never arraigned, and let off. (Woodward109)

On July 2, 1791 the Treaty of the Holston was held atWhites Fort, near Knoxville, TN. George Washington hopedthis would solve the Cherokee and the settlers problem andencourage the Cherokees to become more domestic and peaceful.(Satz p. 69)

In 1797 the future king of France, Prince Louis, Duke ofOrleans visited the Cherokee country with his two brothers.It was told that Louis was given the honor of sleeping in thechiefs tent between the chiefs grandmother and great aunt.(Woodward p. 39)

The Cherokee decided to live peacefully with the whiteman and adopted their ways, and to learn to read and writetheir language. In 1804 Gideon Blackburn, PresbyterianMinister in the Maryville, Tennessee School, started aMission School, to teach the Indian children to read andwrite. This created a desire to record their own language,that Sequoyah would later create, even tho he never learnedthe English language. A year later John Sevier visited theschool and was so impressed he cried tears of joy. EarlierSevier had considered Cherokee children, "nits that madelice" and when they raided their villages his men wereencouraged to kill the children along with their elders. (Woodward p. 123-125, Satz p. 74)

An Important Cherokee was SEQUOYAH whose Indian namemeant talking leaves, but his English name was George Gist.He probably was the son of Nathaniel Gist a Virginia "BlueBlood" and a Cherokee maiden. He was considered an outcastby both groups, until after he developed the CherokeeAlphabet. He was born about 1760. He fought at the Battle ofHorseshoe Bend in AL, where he might have been wounded,because he was lame later in life. Since he was asilversmith, he wanted to put his Indian name on hisproducts. This would develope a desire for him want to createthe Cherokee Alphabet, so he could write it. In 1821 hereturned to North Carolina from Oklahoma with the 86 letteralphabet that contained English, Greek, and Hebrew letters.In 1828 Elias Boudinot, Cherokee of mixed blood, published abilingual newspaper, in Cherokee and English. ( Woodward andSatz ) The computer industry used his idea of the alphabet intheir chips. (Dr. Abraham)

Another important Cherokee was JUNALUSKA. He was bornnear Franklin, NC on the Little Tennessee River, and wasalways a friend to the white man. He was also a friend toWill Thomas, who was part Cherokee, both later becameChiefs. During the War of 1812 with England, many Cherokees,whose nicknamed was "Red Sticks", fought on the American sidewith Andrew Jackson and William Blount at the Battle ofHorseshoe Bend in March 1814. Without the Cherokee Indians,Jackson probably would have lost. Junaluska saved Jackson'slife when a Creek Indian was about to kill him, but latersaid he shouldn't have saved Jackson's life. When Jacksonwas President, Junaluska thought Jackson would help him andthe Cherokee Nation, but did not. Junaluska went with the17,000 Cherokees on the tragic removal of the Cherokees tothe OklahomaTerritory, which was over 1200 miles. This wascalled Trail of Tears (October, 1838 to March, 1839), becauseover one third died on the way. In 1842 since most of hisfamily died on the March, he decided to return walk back toNorth Carolina. He was old and wanted to die in his nativeland. He died, November 20, 1858, and is buried with hiswife Nicie in Robbinsville, NC on land given to him after thewar. The D.A.R. maintaines his memorial. (Phillips)

I saved the best for last, NANCY WARD was born in Chotaaround 1738 which was located in the NorthGeorgiaMountains.All three sources agree she was the daughter of Tame Doe, butthey disagree as to who her father was. Haywoods History ofTennessee, says she was a pure Cherokee. Pat Alterman saysher father was a Delaware Indian.

The best and most interesting story comes from King andAdams, true or not it is interesting. Here it is. WhileOconostota was in London in 1730, he met and married LucyWard, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of England. She was thedaughter of Edmund Ward. Her brother was Frances Ward andwas the husband of Tame Doe. By coming to American andliving on the Indian Reservation, Lucy had a chance to benear her brother and to teach the Cherokees her religion.Tame Doe and Lucy gave birth the same cold night, both havingdaughters. Lucy's died, Tame Doe, Attakullakulla and the midwife didn't want to anger or hurt Oconostota's feeling,decided to say Tame Doe's baby died. Tame Doe became morethan an aunt to her and taught her the Indian beliefs. Lucytaught her daughter to read and write the English language aswell as the white man's religion which included caring forall people. This would pay off twice when she warned thesettlers. Nancy found out Tame Doe was mother, when BryantWard asked for his niece's hand in marriage. Attakullakullatold her to ask her mother, Tame Doe.

During her early teen years, she married King Fisher, amember of the Deer Clan. Their first child, Catherine, wasborn about 1753 just about the time war started between theCherokees and the Moskogee or Creek Indians. This was partof the French and Indian War, with the British supportingthem and the French the Creek. Catherine later married EllisHarlin, and they had many descendants.

Dahlonega, a town in the NorthGeorgiaMountains, wouldbe a place of victory and defeat for the Cherokees. In 1755,it was near there that the Battle of Taliwah between theCreeks and Cherokees occurred. It was the Indian custom forthe wife to go with her husband on the warpath. Nancy wouldchew on the bullets, so that they would do more harm to theirvictims. During the battle, her husband was mortallywounded. Since she knew how to use a gun, she took herhusband's place, thus rallying them on to victory. She wasgiven the title Beloved Woman or Honored Woman. This wouldallow her to have a voice in Council Meetings and let herspare captive's lives. Nancy was pregnant when she left withher husband, and a son was born, called Little Fellow, laterFive Killer. Nancy could free prisoners with the wave of aSwan's Wing.

The discover of gold in the 1830's in Dahlonega wouldcause the white man to want the land and force the Indians tomove west on the Trail of Tears.

The Cherokees encouraged the British to build them a fortfor their protection. FortLoudon was finished between1756 to 1757. The fort was south of Knoxville, TN on theLittle Tennessee River. Tame Doe and Nancy visited thefort, taking food, pelts and skins for trade, which theycontinued to do so even after hostilities worsened betweenthe whites and Indians. It was during one of these tripsthat Nancy met and fell in love with an Irishman, BryantWard, whose wife had died just before he came to America.Two Cherokees, Standing Turkey and Willenawah, brother ofLittle Carpenter, began the siege of the fort on March 1760,under the leadership of Oconostota. The purpose was to cutoff their supplies. Authors King and Adams said that when avolunteer was asked to go to Virginia for help, Bryant Wardvolunteered. He met Nancy and Tame Doe who were on their wayto the fort to take food and supplies, sharing with him, thenthey continued on their way. The fort surrendered inSeptember 7, 1760. Bryant was captured, and Nancy bargainedfor a race in order to spare his life. This 20 mile raceinitiated and instigated by the Cherokees, which specified hemust reach his destination before the Cherokees recapturedhim. Attakullakulla helped his niece condition Bryant so hewould have the endurance to win. He won and gained hisfreedom. Bryant later married Nancy and they had twochildren. A son who was educated in Virginia. but laterreturned to his mother's people. A daughter, Elizabeth"Betsy" who married first Joseph Martin, an Indian Agent.They lived in the Long Island of the Holston (Kingsport),Betsy married second a Hughes man from North Carolina who wastrader, of goods.

On June 12, 1793 a bunch of whites under JohnBeard killed several Indians and wounding many othersincluding Hanging Maw, his wife and Nancy's daughter,Elizabeth.

During the July 1776 at the Battle on FortWatauga, theCherokees captured Mrs. Lydia Bean and young Samuel Moore,who was burned at the stake. Nancy saved Lydia from beingburned at the stake and look her back to Chota, a place ofsanctuary. Nancy asked Lydia to teach her how to make cheeseand butter from her cows. Nancy's brother, Long Fellow andson, Little Fellow, took her back to the fort when it wassafe.

Nancy's step son, Jack Ward came to America. He marrieda Cherokee and they raised a family in the Indian territory.

Nancy saved the Colonies against British defeat. If shehad not warned the East TN settlers, a lot of men, women andchildren would have been killed. There would not have beenenough men to go to the Battle of King's Mountain onSeptember 30, 1780, and Ferguson wouldn't have been defeated.Ferguson would have been able to join Cornwallis, andWashington would not have defeated Cornwallis at Yorktown in1781. This battle helped the colonies win the battle inthree ways. 1. It was a moral victory, the colonies had notwon a battle for a while. 2. It bought more French supportof men and money. 3. It kept the two British Generalsseparated, keeping Cornwallis in the south.

When the British had learned the Overmountain Men hadleft to find Ferguson, they encouraged the Indians to attackthe unprotected settlements, since most of the men were gone.The Indians had planned to attack, but two things keep themfrom being successful. First, the battle was over and themen were back before the Indians could get organized.Secondly, Nancy again knew the problem needed to be handledpeacefully, so she warned the settlers of the attack.

John Sevier and the others left and defeated theIndians at Boyd's Creek in present day Sevier County, TN inmid December of 1780.

On July 27, 1781, Nancy again stressed peace between thewhites and Indians. The two groups met at Long Island,present day Kingsport, to work on a treaty. She took herdeceased Uncle Attakullukulla's place working for peace.

In May, 1817, Nancy sent her last message to the CherokeeCouncil by her son, Five Killer. Approximately 15 westernCherokee Chiefs had signed over by proxy eastern Cherokeeland. Nancy and John Ross didn't think this was legal, butit later proved to be so.

In her later years she ran the profitable Womankiller Innnear Benton, TN.Nancy died there in 1824. She is buriedthere with her brother Long Fellow and son, FiveKiller.

The famous comedian, Will Rogers who was from Ok., wasrelated to Nancy through his aunt, Margaret Lavinia Rogers.